Plaster-board-edge protection



Oct. 8, 1929. M. RULE PLASTERBOARD EDGE PROTECTION Filed March 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mfr/ rae l Oct. 8, 1929. M. RULE PLASTERBOARD EDGE PROTECTION Filed March 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 8, 1929 MONROE RULE, F SWEET'WATER, TEXAS PLASTER-BOARD-EDGE PROTECTION Application led March 18, 1927. Serial No. 176,335.

This invention relates to a paratus for thel manufacture of plasterboar butv more particularly tothe means for drying the plasterboard in the kiln after it leaves the forming machine and the plastic core has become set.

Heretofore in drying plasterboard in such kilns, trouble has been experienced with the edges of the board. The drying eit'ect of the heat of the kiln is supplemented by a. blast Of air through the kiln to more readily and more rapidly carry o' the excess moisture. The edges of the plasterboard have a larger surface comparatively than the central portion of the board and are dried more rapidly. This is particularly true in the Wet end of the kiln. As the board advances further into the kiln .the heat of the kiln applied to the already dried edges isl suiflcient to start a calcination of the gypsum core at the edge 2o while the central portion is not so affected. This is the result of the uneven drying of the various portions of the board.

It is an object of this invention vto provide a means whereby the edges of the board may be protected in the wet end of the kiln and to produce a more even drying of the board. This has the effect of preventing the calcining of the edges of the plasterboard in the kiln during the drying of the board. 3o In the drawing in which like numbers indicate like parts, Fig. 1 is a transverse cross4 section showing three decks of such a kiln with the baiiies both fixed and adjustable, of the new device in various positions for the fabrication of. board of diii'erent widths. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of two decks of such a kiln showing the conveyor, the' pipes for heating the kiln andthe method of using the baffles. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the 40 mounting of an adjustable baiile. Fig. 4 is a cross section of Fig. 3 taken through the line 4 4, while Fig. 5 is a cross section throughv Fig. 3 along the line 5--5. Fig. 6 is adetailed drawing showingthe method of installing the adjusting rod through the side of the kiln.

Referring now more particularly lto theI drawing in detail, fixed baiiies 1 are mounted on the stem pipes along the side of the kiln extending downwardly therefrom at a fixed angle land extending along and riding the edges of the plasterboard 8. In the central 'portion of the kiln movable baiiies 2 are mounted silnilar to the fixed baffles along the sides but are capable of lateral movement, a rod 3 being attached thereto and extending through the side of the kiln 11.v It is contemplated mounting the battles on the steam pipe 5 `which extends transversely to the kiln and holding them in place at a fixed angle to the plasterboard by means of rods 7 placed adjacent to the steam pipe 5. The mounting of the movable balile is more clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The adjustable baffle 2 is attached to the adjusting rod 3 by means of 65 bolts and lnuts 6 substantially as shown, alternate sections of the baffle embracing in opposite directions the rod 7 placed adjacent to the stem pipe 5 for the purpose ofmaintaining the angular relation 'between the baiiies 70 and the plasterboard. The fixed battles 1 are similarly mounted except that there is no adjusting rod 3 or nuts and bolts 6. In order that there will be little heat loss around the adjust-ing rod 3 a joint, or rather an opening, 75 through the side wall of the kiln is provided as shown in Fig. 6. In this drawing a bushing 9 which :tits snugly'around the adjusting rod 3 extends through the walls of the kiln 11 and is threaded on both ends. This bushso ing is held in place by nuts 10 on both sides of the kiln wall.

In the operation as the plasterboard carrying its excess `moisture is introduced at the wetend of the kiln it may be placed on any S5 one of several decks. Before its is introduced, however, the movable baffles( 3 are so adjusted laterally that the movable baiiie 2 will ride one edge of the board while the fixed baiiie 1 will ridel the outside edges of the 90 board. The-board advances along the rollers or conveyor 4 and due to the angular relation of the baffle slips thereunder. Each bafiie extends a suiicient lengthso that the next succeeding bafiie in the same relative position overlaps it providing a continuous protection to the edges of each vsheet as it'passes through the kiln. These baiiies prevent the blast of air from reaching the tops of the edges and thus insure a more even drying of the board.

Having thus described my invention; what I claim is 1. In the processof making plasterboard and combined therewith, the method of protecting the edges ofthe plasterboard during kiln drying, comprising the covering of the edges of such plasterboard with protecting strips as the board passes through the kiln.

2. A device to be locatedwithin a plasterboard drying kiln consisting of a plurality of battles composed 'of long narrow strips of sheet metal, means for supporting one end of each-of the battles; and means for laterally adjusting certain of the baffles from the exterior of the kiln.

3. In the drying of plasterboard after forming, a device to protect the edges of the plasterboard comprising a plurality of baffles to cover' the edges, certain of such ballles being laterally adjustable, long narrow strips of sheet metal one end of which is supported the other end being overlapped by the next succeeding baille.

4. In the kiln drying of plasterboard during its manufacture a device` to protect the edges of the plasterboard from burning consisting of a series of baliies at the wet end ot' the kiln, the baffles at the side of the kiln being fixed in place the centrally located baies'fbeing capable of lateral adjustment and means to make such adjustment.

5'. In a drying kiln for plasterboard manufacture a device to protect the edges of the plasterboard consisting of a plurality of baffles of long narrow strips of sheet metal placed to ride the edges of the plasterboard, the side bailles being fixed, the central baffles being laterally adjustable, supports to fasten one end of each battle and means to adjust the central battles from the exterior of the kiln.

6. In a plasterboard drying kiln means Jfor moving plasterboard therethrough and means for drying the plasterboard in combination with means to protect the edges of the plasterboard .comprising a plurality of metal baffles engaging the top ot the edges of the plasterboard as it advances under the battles.

7. In a ki'lnfor drying' plasterboard a plurality of widths of plasterboard 'moving si- /multaneously therethrough, and means for protecting the edges of the p'lasterboard mov- ,ing through the kiln comprising a plurality ,of fixed and adjustable battles sliding thereover. s

S. In a kiln for drying plasterboard ay plurality of decks each having a plurality of j widths of plasterboard thereon; means for providing movement to the'plurality of layers and widths of plasterboard; steam pipes for applying heat to the kiln placed transverse thereto; metallic rods spaced from and adjacent to certain of such steam pipes; a plurality of iiexible battles on each deck extending downwardly from said certain steam pipes at an angle to the plasterboard, and sliding over the moving plasterboard, supported by the steam pipes and anchored thereto, the angle being maintained by attaching the baliie to the steam pipes and the adjacent metallic rods; a plurality of laterally adjustable baffles-mounted on the steam pipes and rods similarly to the fixed battles; and means to make the lateral adjustment extending from the interior to the exterior of the kiln.

9. In the process of making plasterboard which comprises advancing the plasterboard through the drying kiln while maintaining the plasterboard in Contact with superimposed bai'lles which inhibit the direct impact of the hot kiln gases with the plaster bound edges of said plasterboard.

l-O. A drying kiln for plasterboard comprising a conveyor adapted to accommodate plurality of widths of plasterboard, steam pipes Jfor applying heat to the kiln, a plurality of flexible sheet metal baffles attached to said steam pipes, said baffles in the center portion of the kiln being laterally adjustable on the pipe coils, and means to move said ad- 

